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BWF: On Court Behaviour Under Review

PRESS RELEASE

by BWF

3 March 2008

THE BWF Council, at its meeting last Thursday expressed serious concern about the incident in the Korean Super Series finals that resulted in regrettable actions involving players, coaches, managers and officials.

Disputed line calls and occasional human failure in the calling of lines was seen by Council as being part of the game, but should not lead to incidents and should not be a regular feature of the game.

Council appointed a Committee to examine all the factors leading up to the final incident in the men’s singles between Lin Dan and Lee Hyun Il during the Korea Open final and make recommendations to Council about ways and means to address the issue and also whether any disciplinary action is required.

Anne Smillie, Chair of Sport Committee (renamed at the December meeting from Events Committee, and Chair of this Major Incident Research Team (MIRT), said that Council emphasised to the Committee members that the result of the game must be determined by player skill and endeavour and not other factors.

The Committee has been empowered to look at all issues, it has a broad brief and the full backing of all on Council.

Anne said the opportunity of the All England this week would be used to talk to officials and players about on court issues that have the potential to mar the game.

The other members of MIRT are Torsten Berg, Roger Johansson and Robin Bryant. Key officials, and Council Members present at the event have been requested to provide reports on their perspective of the incident and also their views on possible solutions to the issue of line calls.

Berg and Johansson are the sports most experienced referees and have both expressed concern that the sport address this issue quickly. Berg added that as the prize money grows and the importance of winning events increases these tensions will become more common place if something is not done.

Council member Robin Bryant, an Australian who has been through a summer of watching tennis and cricket on TV in Australia, observed the huge success technologies such as Hawkeye can have on reducing such problems and in enhancing the viewer and spectator experience.

Bryant said that the application of such technologies to major events in badminton will be discussed with the company in Birmingham during the Yonex All England Open Super Series this week.

Disputed line calls and occasional human failure in the calling of lines was seen by Council as being part of the game, but should not lead to incidents and should not be a regular feature of the game.

i find the above statement by bwf council as 'very naive' and/or 'out of touch' of today's and future badminton.

When see massive improvement in the game since the day of wood rackets in player's speed and power; televison signal transmission speed and clarity; space age material and manufacturing of equipments, it is irresponsible for the bwf council to fluff the bad line calls as ' regular feature of the game'. It seem that any improvement from the bwf in addressing bad calls matter will be..slow.

i dont remember exactly what i posted before but mainly i was not in agreement with this line :

"Disputed line calls and occasional human failure in the calling of lines was seen by Council as being part of the game..."

I am in agreement that something should be done about it but based on the way the bad calls were mentioned, i think BWF will not be speedy in their effort to make sure bad line calls are kept to a minimum if not eradicated entirely.

Disputed line calls are acceptable as long as it is not done with malice. Occasional human failure however, is not acceptable at all.

but the quality and speed of the todays's players have increased a lot and margin of errors are alot smaller than before.. Even if bad calls were not done with malice, more frequent bad calls are expected. Now throw in the new rally point system, and bigger prizes, players and coaches will be challenging bad calls more often as well. The rising tension resulting from bad calls is expected and bwf should have seen this trend or had predicted it.

Why brush off unintentional bad calls as 'normal' when there are proven solution available to them

it's like saying car crashes are normal as long as the drivers didnt do it with malice intent. Therefore, radar, laser and photoing speedsters are not neccessary

If it could just be possible to use a modificated version of the Hawkeye system for badminton... Most problems would be resolved. Although we still need those humans watching the lines Otherwise it wouldn't be achievable.

Reuters - Tuesday, March 4LONDON, March 4 - Badminton's elite come under severe scrutiny at this week's All England championships after unruly scenes at January's Korean Open final between world number one Lin Dan and hot property Lee Hyun-il of South Korea.

Officials struggled to restore order in Seoul amid unprecedented scuffles and bitter exchanges as players and coaches argued following a series of tight line calls.

The Badminton World Federation's ruling council announced on Monday the creation of a four-strong special group called the Major Incident Research Team and is considering introducing the technology used in tennis and cricket to decide close calls.

Meetings in Birmingham during the All England tournament will seek ways of avoiding a repetition of the Korean scenes and players and officials will be reminded how on-court issues, particularly in this Olympic year, can mar the sport.

Disciplinary action could still follow the Seoul bust-up while the BWF is thinking of having umpires operating as line judges from the semi-final stage of all major events.

BWF Sport Committee chairwoman Anne Smillie, noting a trend, told the BWF Web site : "We all want to see the result determined by the players, not by courtside officials, or by who can argue the loudest".

China's Lin, beaten finalist in Seoul, begins the defence of his All England title with a tricky match against tall Indian Anup Sridhar who gave him a scare at last year's world championships after earlier disposing of Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.

World champion Lin is drawn to meet Seoul conqueror Lee in Saturday's semi-finals in what would be one of the most intriguing clashes for some time.

Neither need worry, however, about former champion Peter Gade of Denmark who pulled out on Monday with an unspecified illness.

The All England tournament is the sport's most venerable, dating back to 1899, and these days forms part of the Super Series which culminates in the finals in December.

All England qualifying begins on Tuesday with the first round proper starting on Wednesday.